15 Christmas & New Year Cocktails To Sip, Celebrate, And Savour This Holiday Season

Christmas and New Year are the only nights of the year when cocktails stop being just drinks and start becoming moments. From creamy, coffee-laced comforts to spirit-forward showstoppers, these holiday cocktails are designed not just to be served but to be experienced. Whether you’re hosting an intimate house party, planning a long Christmas lunch, or counting down to midnight on New Year’s Eve, this is a lineup that brings flavour, drama, and festive cheer into every glass. 

Best Holiday Cocktails To Try This Year

1. Bandarful Affogato 

Ingredients:

• Bandarful – 30 ml
• Fresh espresso shot – 1
• Vanilla ice cream – 1 scoop
• Coffee dust – for garnish

Method:

1. Brew a fresh espresso shot and keep it hot.
2. In a mixing bowl, pour in Bandarful.
3. Add the espresso and whip the two together using a whisk or milk frother until lightly frothy.
4. Place a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream in the centre of a serving bowl.
5. Pour the frothy Bandarful–espresso mixture around the ice cream.
6. Finish with a light sprinkle of coffee dust on top.

2. Kumaoni Christmas 

Ingredients:

• Kumaon & I – 45 ml
• Verjuice – 22.5 ml
• Homemade melon wine – 22.5 ml
• Chocolate bitters – 3 dashes

Method:

1. Fill a mixing glass with ice.
2. Add Kumaon & I, verjuice, and melon wine.
3. Dash in the chocolate bitters.
4. Stir slowly for about 20–25 seconds until well chilled and balanced.
5. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
6. Just before serving this holiday cocktail, ignite soft steel wool briefly to create a smoky, aromatic finish.

3. Mulled Wine Highball By Tulleeho 

Ingredients:

• Mulled wine (chilled or room temperature) – 60 ml
• Brandy – 45 ml
• Soda water – to top
• Ice cubes
• Star anise – for garnish

Method:

1. Fill a highball glass with ice cubes.
2. Pour the mulled wine over the ice.
3. Add brandy for warmth and depth.
4. Top with soda water for a gentle sparkle.
5. Stir lightly to combine.
6. Garnish with star anise.

4. Jingle Brew By Geist Brewing Co. 

Ingredients:

• Jim Beam Whiskey – 45 ml
• Coffee syrup – 20 ml
• Baileys – 30 ml
• Fresh cream – 20 ml

Method:

1. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker.
2. Fill with ice and shake vigorously until creamy and well-chilled.
3. Strain into a chilled glass.
4. Serve this holiday cocktail immediately while frothy and cold.

5. Whiskmas By MONIN India 

Ingredients:

• MONIN Agave Syrup – 20 ml
• Earl Grey tea – 150 ml
• Whisky – 40 ml
• Lemon juice – 10 ml
• Cardamom – 1 pod
• Star anise – 2 pcs

Method:

1. Brew Earl Grey tea and let it cool slightly.
2. In a shaker or mixing glass, add agave syrup, whisky, lemon juice, and tea.
3. Add cardamom and star anise to infuse gently.
4. Stir well (or shake lightly for texture).
5. Strain into a heatproof glass or mug.
6. Garnish with star anise or a lemon wheel.

6. The Holiday Spritz By Chand0n

Ingredients:

• Chandon Brut – 120 ml
• Grapefruit juice – 10 ml
• Orange juice – 50 ml
• Elderflower syrup – 10 ml

Method:

1. Add grapefruit juice, orange juice, and elderflower syrup to a chilled wine glass.
2. Fill the glass with ice.
3. Top it up with Chandon Brut.
4. Stir gently to retain the bubbles.

7. Jiji Berry 

Ingredients:

• Jin Jiji – 45 ml
• Citric acid – 10 ml
• Raspberry soda – to top
• Beer berry foam – for garnish

Method:

1. Fill a highball glass with ice.
2. Pour in Jin Jiji over the ice.
3. Add some citric acid for a sharp, clean bite.
4. Top it up with raspberry soda.
5. Stir it gently.
6. Finish this holiday cocktail with the beer berry foam on top.

Also Read: 18 Festive Alcohol Bottles That Make The Perfect Christmas & New Year Gift

8. Midnight Plum By Geist Brewing Co.

Ingredients:

• Gin – 45 ml
• Cinzano Rosso – 30 ml
• Fresh plum syrup – 20 ml

Method:

1. Add all ingredients to a shaker filled with ice.
2. Shake well until it’s chilled and silky.
3. Strain it into a chilled glass.
4. Garnish with a slice of plum.

9. Spiced Hot Chocolate Toddy By Tulleeho 

Ingredients:

• Dark rum – 45 ml
• Chocolate syrup – 20 ml
• Cinnamon syrup – 10 ml
• Warm saffron-infused milk – 120–150 ml
• Milk foam – to top

Method:

1. Gently heat milk with saffron, but do not let it boil.
2. In a heatproof mug, add rum, chocolate syrup, and cinnamon syrup.
3. Pour in the warm milk and stir until smooth.
4. Froth the remaining milk and spoon the foam on top.
5. Garnish with chocolate shavings.

10. Let’s Whisper Essence By Davana Vermouth Indica 

Ingredients:

• Davana Rosso – 60 ml
• Rhubarb syrup – 30 ml
• Apple juice – 45 ml
• Lime juice – 5 ml
• Soda – to top

Method:

1. Add all ingredients (except soda) to a highball glass.
2. Fill it up with some ice.
3. Lastly, top it with soda.
4. Stir gently, garnish, and serve this holiday cocktail.

11. Hotel Lobby By The Lab At Amaraanth, Goa 

Floral Pour Base Ingredients:

• Gin – 300 ml
• Lillet Blanc – 100 ml
• Kaffir lime leaves – 4
• Jasmine tea – 6 g
• Lavender buds – 1.5 g

— Macerate for 4 hours, strain, and store.

Final Drink Ingredients:

• Floral Pour – 30 ml
• Gin – 15 ml
• Lillet Blanc – 15 ml
• Sugar syrup – 17.5 ml
• Lime acid solution – 15 ml

Method:

1. Stir all the ingredients with ice.
2. Strain it into a Nick & Nora glass.
3. Garnish with a whole marigold.

12. Idaaya-roni (Take of a Kingston Negroni with Idaaya) 

Ingredients:

• Idaaya – 30 ml
• Campari (or similar aperitif) – 30 ml
• Sweet vermouth – 30 ml

Method:

1. Stir all the ingredients with ice.
2. Strain the mix over a large ice cube in a rocks glass.
3. Garnish it with an orange peel and enjoy this holiday cocktail.

13. Cashmir Vodka Pina Colada

Ingredients:

• Cashmir Vodka – 60 ml
• Kashmiri Kahwa tea – 20 ml
• Organic honey – 1 tbsp
• Carbonated water – to top

Method:

1. Add the vodka, kahwa tea, and honey to a glass.
2. Stir until the honey dissolves.
3. Top it up with carbonated water.
4. Garnish with orange zest and serve.

14. MacRoys Scots Guard

Ingredients:

• MacRoys BB1 – 60 ml
• Rosso Vermouth – 15 ml
• Angostura Bitters – 15 ml
• Maraschino cherry – 1

Method:

1. Add some broken ice to a shaker.
2. Pour in the whisky, vermouth, and bitters.
3. Shake it briefly.
4. Pour the mix unstrained into a rocks glass.
5. Garnish with a cherry.

15. Camikara Rum Picante

Ingredients:

Camikara 3YO Aged Rum – 50 ml

• Passionfruit syrup – 15 ml
• Jalapeño brine – 10 ml
• Fresh lime juice – 30 ml
• Coriander stems – 5 pcs
• Jalapeño slices – 4–6

Method:

1. Muddle coriander and jalapeño in a shaker.
2. Add remaining ingredients and ice.
3. Shake vigorously.
4. Double strain into a chilled coupe or rocks glass.
5. Garnish with a jalapeño slice and coriander sprig.

These holiday cocktails promise to make every festive moment feel a little more magical.

Cover Image Courtesy: Supplied